It was a long day yesterday.
1½ hour trip to the train station. Because I was nice and accommodating, an early drop-off so the Chautauqua driver could pick someone else up at the airport, which left me with 2 hours to kill at the station. A 5½ hour train trip. And a 1½ trip home. Total: 10½ hours.
But I’m home. And my little girl looks great. She’s in the tunnel as I write this post.
I won’t mention the weeds. Let’s just say I’m headed out there soon, before it gets too humid.
Every play or musical I work on is special. There’s a magic that happens in the theater that is hard to define, but, even in less than desirable circumstances, it is a constant. I leave each out-of-town experience a little changed; full of memories and blessed with new friends. While on the train I was chatting, via Facebook, with some of the actors from Kiss Me Kate, who are now performing Darko’s glorious production at the Old Globe in San Diego. I was also chatting with the young actors in Our Town, as they prepared to do a matinée performance. We bond working together on these productions. When it all ends and we go back to wherever we’re from, that bond stays.
A shot from tech week. That’s the actress playing Emily standing on the table. And that’s the actor playing the Stage Manager, holding his phone – probably checking his messages!
Our Town was especially magical. As I sat on the train, I thought about the whole experience and came up with some ideas about that.
• First of all: Chautauqua. Need I say more? It’s a beautiful environment and the perfect place to ‘put on a play.’
• There’s an intensity about rehearsing and staging and opening a play in less than three weeks. It’s like Summer Stock and you cannot help but bond in that experience.
• The director, Paul, is perhaps my favorite director to work with. I cannot say enough about what a treasure he is. We first worked together out in San Diego during the summers of 2008 and 2009. I was thrilled at the prospect of working with him again. He is a rare man; full of joy with a wickedly wonderful sense of humor (I laugh more with him than anyone (except Don). He manages to create a serious but fun working atmosphere. Everyone falls in love with him. And he has an impeccable theatrical eye. He knows how to direct (he’s also an actor) and he inspires everyone in the process.
• More on that. As a voice/speech/text coach, I am a part of the process, of course, but I’m also on the edges of the process. By that, I mean that I do my thing but I’m not part of a crew, like the costume team, or the lighting team, etc. It can be very social but also solitary work. Not with Paul. From the very beginning, I was part of the ‘table work’ we did: reading the play, talking it through, sharing our thoughts. That happens with both Paul and Darko, because they’re secure as directors. They also know me well and respect my work, thank goodness. What makes Paul unique is that somehow he lets me be me. I often have to be fairly quiet and serious during the rehearsal process and that’s fine – that’s a part of me. However, I am a very funny person. I’m not bragging, just stating a fact. And Paul lets me be funny – we almost work together like a comedy team. I feel more fully myself working with Paul than anyone else. He also welcomes input from everyone involved in the process. He was constantly asking me what I thought of some bit of staging or checking in with me about the actors.
He’s a gem. I am so, so grateful that I had this opportunity to work with him again. I adore him. I would drop everything to work with him again.
A break in rehearsal – the graveyard scene.
• Our Town. The best American play ever written. Transformational, profoundly moving, joyous and sad – Thornton Wilder has given us a meditation on life and death that moves audiences to tears, touches a place within that cannot help but leave one shaken and moved and altered forever.
• And finally, the student actors. Most of my work nowadays is with professional actors and I love that. The cast of Our Town is made up of professional actors and student actors. But I am first and foremost a teacher – it’s in my bones – and since I no longer hold a faculty position, I don’t often get to work with students. The acting conservatory at the Chautauqua Theater Company is full of students currently training in some of the best programs in the country; Yale, Juilliard, NYU and others. They’re talented and smart and wonderfully eager and they’re still learning. I love being around students. I love that challenge. Students, both former and current, are a big part of my life. For the most part, they have remained my friends, even after they have moved on to the professional world. I treasure those relationships and am very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with this amazingly talented group.
You can tell that I still have one foot in Chautauqua and one foot in Mockingbird Hill Cottage. There’s a re-entry that has to happen. Don and I both go through this when we’ve been out of town. He understands.
It was an incredible experience and I am deeply and profoundly grateful.
Now…on to weeding. (That will bring me back to reality.)
Happy Monday.
Great post Claudia – you covered so many aspects of the theatre world, your career, and I always knew you were funny, haha! I hope WE can laugh together in person one of these days – I’d love that.
Glad you’re home safe and sound – let the weeds wait a while, just have fun with the family.
Hugs – Mary
It would be so great to laugh together – in person -Mary. Here’s hoping we can do that someday!
Claudia, I can feel how you love your job. You are not ready to retire yet! Enjoy your day at home. Doris
I’m far from ready to retire!
As I am reading your post this morning, my youngest granddaughter was sitting on my lap. I came to the part of your post that is directly across from your Instagram pictures. I said, “Look, B, that is Miss Claudia.” “Friend?” “Yes, dear, friend.” Thought you would like that!
So glad you made it home safely. I couldn’t imagine leaving such an adventure as summer theatre.
Don’t overdo the weed pulling. I’m sure they’ll be there tomorrow waiting for you.
Hugs to all of you,
Deb
I do like that! What a lovely story, Deb.
I did a lot of weed pulling. But I’m showered and resting now!
You are so fortunate to have two worlds in which to live…separate but linked! And then there’s reality….happy weeding! ;)
I can’t even begin to tell you how many weeds there are!
I have a pretty good imagination…too bad I’m not closer, we could make short work of it. Take your time….you know they will be there tomorrow! ;)
I, too, can feel your intense commitment, and enjoyment to all aspects of the theater. So glad for you to have such positive emotions and passion about your work. Whoa…weeding is a hard fall back to reality!
From the sublime to the ridiculous, Wendy!
Such a wonderful gift to be able to still do what you love. And we all know that you do, indeed, love what you do!!
And then weeds and reality set in. Remember….. they didn’t grow in one day, so don’t try to get rid of them too quickly ~ to leave you too sore to be able to stop and smell those roses…. and other flowers! They will wait patiently for you. :-)
I bet sweet Scout was beyond joyful when she saw you ~ and Don, too, I’m sure!! Always good to be back to home sweet home.
It’s very good to be home. Little Scout is snoozing right beside this chair I’m in. Don went to run some errands. I weeded like crazy and now I’m resting!
Claudia..from what I know of you..I can certainly imagine what a wonderful teacher you are..like a mother bird teaching her children to fly..Anyone who can do their work with kindness, understanding and laughter will leave their mark on those students forever..You and Paul should be very proud..Now..go show those weeds who is the boss..lol..
I did! But there’s still some left. I took a good pass at everything. More later this week!
It must be wonderful to earn a living (at least somewhat) doing something you love! I wish that I had had that experience. When I worked for a living, it was extremely boring and the time dragged. I am a housewife now, which I love, but make no money doing it. I do do some little jobs on the side for a tiny bit of extra money.
It is – although ‘making a living’ in the arts is tricky. But when I get the chance to do my work, I’m very happy indeed.
Can we have a pic of Paul please? I’m just about ready to fall in love again. lol. I’ve decided that the weeds in my garden are just flowers I didn’t know were there. Did you get my pics of lace hearts I made. If so I’ll send pics of my English country garden. B lessings
No pics of Paul. I wouldn’t do that without his permission and he’s modest that way. So…no can do. I did get the pictures, Lesley, but there was no text with the email.
I kind of figured you have a sense of humor- and imagined you a funny lady! Your work experience is so interesting, and sounds like a fun time at work.
I saw your “waiting for the train pics” on Instagram… 10 1/2 hrs is a long trip!
I could get to Missouri in that time!
5 1/2 hours to cross the state from one end to the other. Chautauqua is in the far western part of the state, I’m not that far from the CT border. The other stuff is what made the trip SO long!
Claudia,
You have written a few times, on this blog, about the fact that both you and Don have realized that you might be the oldest person in the room, while working on a production.
Well, I think it’s likely that everyone else thinks you’re the coolest person in the room. That goes for Don, too.
Said with all due respect.
❤
Oh, you made my day! Thank you, Nancy! (I hope you’re right – I think I’m pretty cool and certainly Don is!) Bless your heart. xo
Claudia, you should definitely consider yourself as much a part of the crew as anyone else – lighting people, costumers, set designers etc. Voice and dialect coaches are always listed in the credits these days. I was surprised to see that Tom Hanks had a voice coach for “Saving Mr Banks.” I never thought Walt Disney had an accent!! :>) I’m a bit of a “credits nut” – my family groans every time we go to the movies because I always stay until the credits finish running. I can’t help it, I like seeing who did what. PS – personal rant – there used to be 20 or so people listed in the credits, along with the cast, for movies in the 30s and 40s. Now we have to wade through the names of personal assistants, studio teachers, catering services [sometimes even the chef], stand-ins, drivers, animal wranglers, software developers, you name it. It’s been ridiculous for some time now. What if every other profession or industry attached the names of every person ever connected with their products? “Pipe polished by John Doe…” ?? Have a wonderful first evening home!
Oh, I definitely consider myself part of the creative team, but I work solo. That’s what I meant. I don’t have cutters and drapers and assistants, like the costume designer does or stage crew and electricians like the lighting designer has. That’s what I meant. I work on my own.
Such a great post Claudia. I remember seeing “Our Town” years ago when my high school peers presented it. Normally all productions were in the large auditorium, but “Our Town” was done in what we called “the little theatre”. Even though it’s a stark presentation, it felt so powerful in the little theatre! It’s been over 40 years, but I remember it so well.
Glad you’re home!
Such an amazing post my friend. You put your heart on this page and gave us a real look into your work and how you feel about it. I’ve not done theater since high school, but even this I knew there was something magical about it! I’m so glad you and Don continue to work and have these amazing experiences (I’m waiting for his appearance on Mr Robot which I’ve been watching…more on that another time). Weeding will bring you back to earth so to speak. I’m funny also and I know we would crack each other up!
hugs,
Linda